Healthy Melon Protein Smoothie

Most smoothies are made of bananas and fruit, but they don’t have to be. Here’s my favorite alternative to the conventional smoothie, a Nourishing Melon Protein Smoothie enhanced with protein powder, fresh herbs, and more.

Unconventional Ingredients for a Delicious Melon Protein Smoothie

You might not have ever used most of the ingredients below in a smoothie, but I bet you’ll love the final result, which is fresh and tangy with just the right amount of sweetness and creaminess. You will need the following:

Avocado and coconut milk: You don’t need bananas for creaminess and thickness. Both avocado and coconut provide a satisfying texture with plenty of minerals and healthy fats. Avocados are also rich in folate, magnesium, and potassium, while coconuts are high in manganese, copper, iron, and selenium. These are all great nutrients but are especially beneficial to runners and athletes in general.

Lime and basil leaves: They might not be your usual smoothie go-to ingredients, but they go so well with honeydew melon, adding a nice flavor dimension to the fruit’s natural sweetness. Be sure to use fresh basil, not dried, as they have a completely different flavor. If you find yourself running out of fresh herbs, one easy trick is to chop them and freeze them in ice cube trays with water to cover. You can then use the frozen herbs any time in both sweet and savory recipes.

Honeydew melon: Because many people add frozen fruits to smoothies, and melon is generally only available fresh, we tend to eat it whole. But just like other unconventional smoothie ingredients like kiwi or persimmon, you might be surprised at how delicious it is when blended into this melon protein smoothie!

Honeydew melon is not just a sweet, water-rich fruit. It’s also high in antioxidants and rich in various minerals and vitamins, including vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, folate, and B vitamins. On top of it, it is rich in fiber, which promotes digestive health and slows down blood sugar spikes. Because the honeydew melon is blended and not juiced, you still get all the benefits of its soluble and insoluble fiber but in drink form.

Protein powder: Vegan protein powder takes this refreshing sweet drink and turns it into a complete meal. For plant-based and Vegan runners, I like Optimum Nutrition’s  Plant-based Creamy Vanilla protein powder. It has a blend of pea, rice, and fava bean protein, is gluten-free, and contains nine essential amino acids and zero grams of sugar. If you prefer Whey protein and are not Vegan or plant-based, Optimum Nutrition also carries 100% Whey protein powder.

Vanilla is the best option in this melon protein smoothie because it’s not too overpowering. Good options include brown rice protein, pea protein, and protein blends for the broadest spectrum of nutrients.

More Delicious Variations 

If you love this melon protein smoothie, try using strawberries instead of melon since they go great with lime and basil. Or, keep the recipe as is, and add some frozen blueberries instead of the ice. And while this is one of the few smoothies without bananas, feel free to add them if you’re in the mood!

This melon protein smoothie does not keep well once it is made, but if you have leftovers, they make fantastic ice pops and smoothie bowls. And if you enjoyed this recipe, you’ll want to give my Runner-Friendly Healthy Tropical Smoothie Bowl a shot!

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